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Religion Core

Program Purpose

Students who successfully complete the required Doctrinal Foundation core in Religious Education will be able to demonstrate that they have acquired an understanding of LDS scripture, doctrine and history through the process of rigorous study and personal faith (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118).

Inherent in the process of learning by study and by faith is the responsibility each student assumes for their part in the learning process. Therefore, students who apply themselves will be able to demonstrate competence in the following areas: Factual, Conceptual, Application and Spiritual.

The use of foundational knowledge and conceptual understanding of LDS scripture, doctrine and history in problem-solving tasks in order to--

discuss a concept or idea

teach a principle or idea to another individual

explain a principle or truth

solve a problem

provide possible responses to case studies

evaluate a set of factors

Spiritual Learning Outcome

Seeking the Holy Ghost as an aid in studying and pondering LDS scripture, doctrine and history in order to--

express feelings of faith and testimony

distinguish between truth and error

assess spiritual promptings as they relate to learning

develop Christlike attributes

demonstrate the ability to balance spiritual, intellectual and behavioral factors

Direct Measures

Student mastery of the learning outcomes will be directly measured by1) standardized assessment designed to measure scriptural understanding gained from the required scripture courses and 2) through the regular curriculum review conducted by the Curriculum Council of course level evidence of student learning.

The standardized assessment will measure student scriptural of the required courses, including Book of Mormon, New Testament and Doctrine and Covenants. The standardized assessment is administered each fall term to a randomly selected sample of first-semester freshmen, junior and senior students. Demographically data collected during the assessment will provide various indices of scripture understanding. The assessment design will also allow analysis of each of the learning outcomes within each content area.

The curriculum review conducted by the Curriculum Council annually reviews systematically selected sample of courses for evidence of student learning. This involves the review of syllabi, exams, indices of student achievement, including writing samples. The purpose of the review is to evaluate alignment of course learning outcomes, assessment methods and evidences of student learning. The standardized assessment and the curriculum review will be used to derive direct measures of student learning in each of the below areas:

Factual Learning Outcomes

Course level midterm and final quality tests of factual learning

Program level administration of a standardized entrance-exit assessment

Conceptual Learning Outcomes

Course level quality tests of student ability in conceptual learning

Course level evaluation of student written response to questions that prompt higher order thinking

Program level evaluation of the written component of the standardized entrance-exit assessment

Application of Learning Outcomes

Course level evaluation of written response in problem solving tasks

Course level evaluation of response to case studies

Course level evaluation of classroom presentations

Course level evaluation of peer teaching

Course level performance in directed learning activities

Indirect Measures

Student mastery of the learning outcomes will be indirectly measured 1) through the evaluation of selected items from the University administered National Survey of Student Engagement, 2) the University Senior Survey and 3) through the evaluation of selected items from the regularly administered Brigham Young University Alumni Questionnaire. The items used as indirect measures are identified below.